What does it mean to believe in Battle Creek? These organizations have some ideas

Kingman Museum was the site of Ignite BC's 'Spotlight' event on March 8, 2019, where community members are encouraged to meet and network at some of the city's unique assets.(Photo: Nick Buckley/Battle Creek Enquirer)

Josh Holderbaum was wearing a nervous smile.

The operations manager for Kingman Museum was more than happy to see the 150 community members mingle between exhibits of human skeletons, cultural artifacts and a polar bear mount earlier this month.

The event was hosted by Ignite BC, a networking organization for young professionals, as part of its "Spotlight" series aimed to highlight Battle Creek's assets.

It encapsulated an optimistic attitude that has taken hold in Battle Creek and been taken up by organizations beating the drum for the city and the people working to make it better.

BC Vision has a monthly "Get Caught" social media campaign aimed at identifying unsung individuals making a difference in the community; the Battle Creek Metropolitan Mustache Society holds annual fundraisers like Leilapalooza, the Raft Race and Festivus in an effort to "make Battle Creek cooler;" and Willard Library is in the midst of its "Love Where You Live" campaign.

CLOSE

Some of the top sled runs and spills from the 11th annual Festivus cardboard sled race at Leila Arboretum.
Nick Buckley, Battle Creek Enquirer

"You hear it all the time: There is so much potential in this town," said Cody Newman, who was born and raised in Battle Creek and is now a downtown business owner. "What's great about this town is you can just do it. Roll up your sleeves and get to work.

"If we were in Chicago and said we want to have a bunch of young people in your museum drinking beer, they would say, 'No way!'" he added. "It's so cool to have the opportunities we do here."

If the time seems ripe for events that celebrate the city, that is due in part to the Battle Creek Community Foundation and its "Believe in Battle Creek" campaign that launched in 2016.

BCCF marketing manager Clovis Bordeaux said the organization printed 10,000 "Believe in Battle Creek" tee-shirts in the last year and a half alone. The slogan has been featured on billboards and murals for the annual "Color the Creek" community art project.

But the foundation is now transitioning to a new message; "Turning Belief Into Action!"

"It's asking the same thing, but being an active participant in your community," Bordeaux said. "We wanted people internalizing that they love where they live, now we're actually asking people to help make a difference. What can you do in your neighborhood? What can you do in your school or community as a whole? Let's actively make our town a better place to be. The reason for all that is, we see the changes happening and we believe in that change."

'Believe In Battle Creek' is a campaign of the Battle Creek Community Foundation.(Photo: Nick Buckley/Battle Creek Enquirer)

Organizations like the BCCF are compelled to fight back against negative perceptions about the city in a time where social media allows for opinions, good or bad, to spread quickly, he added.

"It's easier to be negative than it is to be positive. We spend a lot of time actively fighting against that," Bordeaux said. "It's in the same vein where we're bombarded with negative stories about our city... We wanted to highlight the good things in our community, the businesses coming to our community."

Willard Library has taken its regular programs, which are free to the public, and tied them together through its "Love Where You Live" campaign. Many offer follow-up events that encourage community involvement.

"We hear it all the time from our guests that Willard Library is a jewel in the crown of Battle Creek," said Leah Dodd, director of Willard Library. "Since we've been the recipient of so much love, we wanted to turn it outward."

Matt Willis of Willard Library introduces Forest Therapy Guide Cayla Samano ahead of her presentation as part of the library's 'Love Where You Live' campaign on Feb. 27, 2019.(Photo: Nick Buckley/Battle Creek Enquirer)

A presentation on the Kalamazoo River that was held in January will be followed up with a river cleanup effort on April 28. The forest therapy program includes a guided walk through Woodland Park on May 18. A three-part series on fly fishing (March 18 and 25 and April 1) will encourage community members to use the city's waterways for recreation. And the library is soliciting volunteers to build ramps for Habitat for Humanity on May 9.

"It's exciting that so many organizations are embracing this attitude."

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley